No fatalities

1981-10-21: Curtiss C-46 Commando (HK-388) — Aeropesca Colombia — Florencia, Colombia

Florencia, ColombiaLanding (descent or approach)

On October 21, 1981, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration HK-388) operated by Aeropesca Colombia was involved in an aviation accident near Florencia, Colombia during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Forced landing in water after being hijacked. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781222140Data APIEditorial standards

A cargo aircraft en route from Medellín to Barranquilla was hijacked by four individuals. After loading weapons, the crew was forced to land in the Orteguaza River near Florencia. The aircraft came to rest in shallow water, and the crew was released days later.

Hijacking Incident

A cargo aircraft operating a flight from Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport to Barranquilla-Soledad was hijacked en route by four individuals. The aircraft was carrying six passengers and three crew members at the time. The hijackers demanded to be taken to a remote airstrip located in the Guajira Peninsula.

Subsequent Events

After diverting to the Guajira Peninsula, four to five tons of weapons were loaded onto the aircraft. The airplane then departed and flew to the region of Florencia. The crew was subsequently forced to land the aircraft in the Orteguaza River, approximately 7 kilometers east of Florencia.

Aftermath

The aircraft came to rest in shallow waters. The weapons were offloaded, and the aircraft was abandoned by the hijackers. The crew members were released on November 10, 1981. No further details about the condition of the aircraft or the crew were provided in the official findings.

Probable cause

Forced landing in water after being hijacked